My Crohnstipated Life

Why Resection Surgery?

Resection surgery may be used to remove strictures, which could include one long stricture or a group of strictures that are close to one another, or it may be used to remove severely diseased portions of the small or large intestine. The goal of a resection is to keep as much of the healthy bowel as possible and to only remove portions of the bowel that are beyond healing. In particular, removing large parts of the small intestine is avoided. The small intestine is where vitamins and minerals are absorbed into the body, and if too much of it is removed, it could lead to nutritional deficiencies. In extreme cases, removing too much small intestine can lead to short bowel syndrome. The overwhelming majority of people don’t need so much surgery that short bowel would be a concern.

How Is A Resection Done?

During a resection, general anesthesia is used to manage pain. The surgery may be done either through open surgery or laparoscopic surgery, but open surgery is far more common. Laparoscopic surgery is typically used only in cases where the diseased section of intestine is located in the ileum, and there are no other complications.

In open surgery, one large incision will be made. The diseased section of the bowel is clamped off and removed. After the diseased portion of the intestine is removed, the two healthy ends of intestine are attached together (called anastomosis).

In laparoscopic surgery, 3 to 4 small incisions are used. The abdomen is filled with gas so the surgeon can better see the abdominal cavity and a camera is inserted through one of the incisions. The rest of the procedure is the same as in open surgery: the diseased bowel is removed and the healthy tissue is reattached.

Here is a youtube video showing you how a resection is done. If you have a weak stomach don’t watch this video!

How Long Is The Recovery Period?

The hospital stay for an open surgery with no complications can be anywhere from 5 to 10 days. For laparoscopic surgery, the hospital stay tends to be shorter.

Recovery from resection surgery can take from 6 to 8 weeks. Returning to work after surgery is a very individual decision, but it generally will be 4 weeks or more after the surgery. A surgeon will give instructions about activity level, but in general, heavy lifting, driving, and other strenuous activities should not be undertaken for at least several weeks after surgery.

What Are The Potential Complications?

Potential complications include those that can occur with any surgery: infection, bleeding, or reaction to the anesthetic. With a resection, there is also a small risk that the two sections of joined intestine may split apart or leak (called dehiscence), though this is not common.

a Ileocoecal resection and b side-to-side anastomosis (graphics designed by R. and S. Langnickel).

Reference: 
Amber J. Tresca  at Very Well Health